Association Between Patient-Specific Factors and the Therapeutic Relationship in Direct Access Physiotherapy for Higher Education Students-An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.
Heidi Emilia Riska, Jaro Ilari Karppinen, Mia Eveliina Heikkala and 3 others
PMID 41006945WHAT IT FOUND
Students with psychological distress or poorer physical function rated the therapeutic relationship less favorably after a single direct access physiotherapy visit.
Chronic pain and overall psychosocial risk were not associated with the relationship quality. The relationship was generally rated very good.
Key findings
01Psychological distress was associated with a more negative perception of the therapeutic relationship.
02Poorer self-rated physical function was associated with a more negative perception of the therapeutic relationship, but this finding was not confirmed in the sensitivity analysis.
03Chronic pain and psychosocial burden were not significantly associated with the therapeutic relationship.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was exploratory with no a priori sample size calculation, limiting statistical power. The therapeutic relationship score showed a strong ceiling effect, with 56% of participants giving the best possible rating, which may have obscured associations. The questionnaire used to measure the therapeutic relationship has not been formally validated. The association between physical function and the therapeutic relationship was not confirmed in the sensitivity analysis. Data were collected from a single visit, so the findings may not reflect the relationship over a course of treatment.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by Suomalainen Konkordia-liitto and Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that patients with chronic pain or high psychosocial risk will have a poorer therapeutic relationship. This study found no association between those factors and relationship quality, whereas psychological distress and physical function did matter.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →